Pirates GM Ben Cherington dismisses any thoughts of trading Paul Skenes

Pirates Dismiss Trade Rumors Surrounding Rookie Star Paul Skens

The Pirates are not considering trading Paul Skens, the National League’s Rookie of the Year. This was made clear by Ben Charrington, the team’s general manager, who responded firmly to questions on the topic before Pittsburgh’s 8-5 loss to the Brewers on Thursday.

“No, that’s not part of the conversation,” Cherington stated bluntly when asked about potential trade discussions.

Speculation around trading Skens has emerged as the team struggles with a 17-34 season, placing them last in the NL Central. Outside of baseball, Skens is recognized for his relationship with gymnastic star Olivia “Livivy” Dan and his growing presence on social media. On the field, however, he has quickly established himself as a leading player for the Pirates since debuting last season.

In 2024, he not only started in the National League All-Star Game but also claimed Rookie of the Year honors. Yet, this season has been challenging. His teammates have not provided consistent run support, and this has become a topic of concern among media members, particularly as the Pirates continue to struggle.

So far, Skens has a record of 3-5 with a respectable ERA of 2.44, but that hasn’t translated into wins for the team, which is just 3-7 in his ten starts this year. In fact, during a recent game against the Phillies, despite pitching a complete game and striking out nine batters, the Pirates still fell short, losing 1-0.

The lack of offensive support has raised eyebrows and led prominent MLB figures to ponder whether a trade involving Skens might be beneficial for the franchise. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand have both recently brought up this possibility.